European Union Baroque Orchestra

History

EUBO was created in 1985 as part of European Music Year, marking the 300th anniversaries of Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, and George Frideric Handel. Over 600 full-time members have given more than 900 performances across 54 countries. From 1985 to 2017, the orchestra operated as an educational charity registered in England and Wales, with its administrative office in Wootton, West Oxfordshire. Between 2008 and 2017, it served as Orchestra-in-Residence in Echternach, Luxembourg, collaborating with the city, Festival International Echternach, and the Trifolion cultural centre; this residency and the Echter'Barock concert series received funding from the city and Luxembourg's Ministry of Culture.

From 2015 to 2018, nine European organisations partnered with EUBO in the 'EUBO Mobile Baroque Academy' project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme. In 2017, the orchestra announced its withdrawal from England and a temporary halt due to Brexit, planning relocation to the Augustinus Muziekcentrum (AMUZ) in Antwerp in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a further pause. After a four-year break, EUBO relaunched in 2022 with funding from Italian foundation ICONS and a base in Italy.

Following 2023 auditions, it gave its first post-relaunch performances at the Wratislavia Cantans festival in Poland, Concertgebouw Brugge, and AMUZ in Belgium, under Enrico Onofri and Francesco Corti.

Activities

The orchestra convenes several times annually for week-long artistic residencies followed by short concert tours. It has performed at venues such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, St John's Smith Square in London, and festivals including Bachwoche Ansbach and specialist early music festivals in Utrecht, York, Brugge, Valletta, and London.

Structure

The ensemble is renewed each year. Spring auditions typically draw around 100 young baroque musicians competing for 20–25 places. Members gain performing experience under baroque music specialists; among those who have regularly worked with EUBO are Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Ton Koopman, Margaret Faultless, Roy Goodman, Enrico Onofri, Rachel Podger, Paul Agnew, Gottfried von der Goltz, Alfredo Bernardini, Sergio Azzolini, and Amandine Beyer.